8 Romantic Places to Inspire a Kiss in Rochester, New York

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Rochester is a city founded on a booming industry like Kodak. It has morphed into a place that is teeming with arts and culture of all kinds. It’s warm now, yet, everyone who has roughed it through the long winters, knows it’s easy to get stuck in a routine. Snuggling is a necessity, less of a romantic gesture. Don’t let the cold, dreary weather interfere with your love life. Here are 8 Romantic Places to Inspire a Kiss (or much more) in Rochester, New York.

Table of Contents

• Genessee River
• Ontario Beach
• Genesee Lighthouse at Charlotte Beach
• Casa Larga
• Eastman Theatre
• Strolling or Cruising Along the Erie Canal
• Arc + Flame
• Rochester Brainery
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Cruising, hiking, and Listening to the Roar of the Genessee River. The Genessee River certainly tops the list for romantic places in Rochester. Here are a few suggestions to enjoy all three:

• Take a romantic dinner, concert, or flooded light cruise on the Lower Gorge of the Genesee River
• The fact that the Genesee River is one of only 33 in the world that flows North is cool enough. Add to it several scenic waterfalls and challenging hikes along its route, and you have a recipe for romance.
  Turning Point Park covers 275 wooded acres along the banks of the Genesee River. The boardwalk and trail won the American Public Works Association in 2008.
• High, Low and Middle Falls are three separate waterfalls along the river.

Ontario Beach 

Watch the sunset or ake a romantic stroll along Ontario Beach’s picturesque pier. Ride the historic 1905 Dentzel Carousel. Or sunbathe on the deck of your 50ft yacht. One of the most romantic places to enjoy Rochester’s beautiful lakeside vistas is by watching the sunset at Charlotte Beach. It may not be the ocean, but Lake Ontario is so large, and the horizon is so far away you can’t tell the difference. The park is a total of 39 acres and offers five shelters available for rent between May 1st and October 31st.

Genesee Lighthouse at Charlotte Beach

Lighthouses evoke romance. The Genesee Lighthouse was constructed in 1822 and was only recently restored in 2014. Genesee Lighthouse at Charlotte Beach is the oldest active lighthouse on Lake Ontario. The lighthouse has had both its tower restored and its lantern. A replica lens has been installed. The tower of the lighthouse is 40 feet high, with 12 feet for the height of the lantern room. All in all, there are 42 steps and an 11-step rung ladder that takes you to the top of the tower. Romantic places often include a view and the lighthouse has a spectacular harbor view. It’s a great opportunity to hold a lot of hands.

Finding Romance in Sicily

The lighthouse is in the former village of Charlotte in Rochester NY, and it offers tours and a membership for those who are interested in its history. The lighthouse is open to the public, but there are tower tours for those who want to go up. Open weekends only. There is a lighthouse keeper’s house with a museum on the inside. There is a freedom garden and billboards with details on the area’s contribution to the War of 1812.

70 Lighthouse St, Rochester, NY 14612

Casa Larga

The lake isn’t the only thing that gives Rochester its natural beauty and romantic places status. The Finger Lakes area also holds the distinction of bearing an American Viticultural Area designation.  Eleven Thousand acres of vineyards and almost 100 wineries where couples can sip and swirl together before winding down in one of the nearby romantic inns. Ride to Casa Larga Vineyards in Fairport for a tasting of the best wines that the Finger Lakes region has to offer.

Love romance? Try some chocolate. I recommend the wine and chocolate pairing. It includes some very unusual combinations like curry. Take a tour the grounds afterward so you can steal a kiss.

2287 Turk Hill Rd, Fairport, NY 14450.

Eastman Theatre

You can’t talk about romantic things to do in Rochester without mentioning the Eastman Theatre. It was already beautiful. But, this historic venue has undergone significant renovations in recent years, making it a true gem of the city. Sit beneath the stunning chandelier and bask in the sounds of the Rochester Philharmonic or one of the many well-known entertainers, ballets, or modern dance performances.

26 Gibbs St, Rochester, NY 14604.

Strolling or Cruising Along the Erie Canal

Strolling or Cruising Along the Erie Canal is one of my favorite things to do when I visit Rochester. They have some really good cafes and restaurants too. Take a Sam Patch boat ride along the Erie Canal in Bushnell’s Basin in Pittsford. Slow down cruise along the Erie Canal under the lift bridge in Fairport. The canal dates back to 1825 and runs from Buffalo to Albany. The stretch between Rochester and Buffalo is original and includes several charming canal towns to enjoy a delicious meal or a bike ride.

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Arc + Flame

Looking for a way to HEAT up your relationship? Tired of the same old dinner and a movie? Bring your love out to Arc + Flame for a romantic evening! They provide everything for a romantic evening. Participants in each instructor-led class are provided with light snacks, beverages, and all the materials necessary to make a beautiful finished project with your partner. Projects vary by date so be sure to check the listing. The cost covers one couple (2 people) for the price of $175.

Some of the classes available: blacksmithing & coppersmithing, glass blowing, and jewelry making. Rochester Arc & Flame Center is the only training facility in western New York to offer professional and recreational classes in welding, glass working and blacksmithing.

125 Fedex Way, Rochester, NY 14624.

Rochester Brainery

Imagine Cooking in close quarters, having your partner’s arms guide you through the correct way to whisk something. The relationship between cooking and romance is a long-documented one. I think the kitchen is one of the most romantic places because you both learn something, communicate and enjoy the rewards of that collaboration. Think Julia & Julia, No Reservations, Chocolat, and the spaghetti scene from Lady and the Tramp. Food can stimulate all five senses. Cooking and romance are connected because the reward hormones from loving or being loved and satisfying hunger are the same.

Rochester Brainery is a community classroom and event space located in Rochester’s Neighborhood of the Arts. It offers more than 40 single-lesson courses each month. It also conducts many great food and wine pairing classes, including chocolate and sushi, pierogis, and vegan cheese.

176 Anderson Ave, Rochester, NY 14607.

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